Planning and taking a trip can be exciting, but unexpected events can disrupt even the most meticulously organized vacation. Sudden illnesses, inclement weather, and unforeseen circumstances can complicate the process and force you to change your plans and seek compensation.
Fortunately, many credit cards include trip cancellation and interruption insurance at no additional cost when you use your card to book travel. The right card can reimburse non-refundable expenses if your plans fall through.
These are the best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance and how their coverage compares.
The best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance
The cards listed above offer some of the strongest trip cancellation and interruption protections available. However, many other travel credit cards also include some type of coverage, often with lower limits.
Related: Credit cards with travel insurance
What is trip cancellation and interruption insurance?
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance can reimburse prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you cancel or modify your trip for a covered reason. Coverage limits, eligible expenses, and qualifying events vary by card.
Generally, trip cancellation insurance applies when you must cancel before departure, and trip interruption insurance applies if your trip is interrupted after it has started.
Unlike the standalone “cancel for any reason” system travel insurance policies You can purchase separately, credit card coverage generally applies only to specific covered events described in your card’s benefits guide. Covered reasons typically include illness, injury, adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, but exclusions apply.
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Because benefits can change, always review your card guide before booking travel.
Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?
Chase Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
chase credit cards offer some of the most comprehensive trip cancellation and interruption protections among major issuers.
He Preferred sapphire and the Sapphire Reserve each provides coverage of up to $10,000 per covered person and $20,000 per trip. Despite their different annual fees—$95 and $795, respectively—both cards offer top-tier protection limits.
He United Club CardUnited’s highest-tier personal card and best suited for United frequent flyers, it also provides coverage of up to $10,000 per covered person and $20,000 per trip, depending on the United Benefits Guide.
When you use an eligible Chase card to pay for all or part of your trip, you and your immediate family members may be eligible for coverage. You must charge all or part of the cost to your Chase credit card (including reservations made with points through the Chase Travel℠ Portal associated with your account).
Other Chase cards offer lower limits. For example, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees), he Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) typically provide coverage of up to $5,000 per covered person and $10,000 per trip.
Meanwhile, cards like Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees), he Chase Unlimited Freedom® (see rates and fees) and the United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) also offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance but with lower coverage limits. These cards typically refund only non-refundable public transportation fares and offer significantly lower per-person limits than Sapphire cards.
Important limitation
Coverage generally applies only to the portion of the trip charged to your eligible card (or booked using associated rewards).
For example, if you pay for a non-refundable hotel stay with gift cards but charge your flight to your Chase card, you likely won’t be reimbursed for the hotel if you cancel, even if the flight was covered.
Always check your card’s benefits guide for full terms, conditions and exclusions.
Related: Your Guide to Chase Travel Insurance Coverage
American Express Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
Select American Express Cards Offers trip cancellation and interruption coverage of up to $10,000 per trip, with a maximum of $20,000 per eligible card for 12 consecutive months.
This includes the Book Delta SkyMiles*, he American Express Platinum Card* and the The American Express Business Platinum Card.*
*Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.
Unlike many issuers, eligible American Express cards can also cover travel companions, not just immediate family members. A travel companion is defined as someone who has made advance arrangements to travel with you or your family members for all or part of a covered trip.
To qualify, you must charge the entire cost of round-trip common carrier transportation to an eligible Amex card or use a combination of your card and Membership Rewards points, vouchers or certificates from loyalty programs.
You can find benefit guides for eligible cards at amex website.
Who does trip cancellation and interruption insurance cover?
Who is covered by credit card trip cancellation and interruption insurance varies greatly. For example, eligible Chase premium cards cover the cardholder and their immediate family members when the cardholder pays for all or part of a trip with their card account or rewards associated with their account.
On the other hand, eligible American Express cards cover the cardholder, their family members, and travel companions. The benefits guide for eligible Amex cards defines a travel companion as “a person who has made advance arrangements with you or your family members to travel together for all or part of a covered trip.”
The definitions of “family member” and “travel companion” differ and benefits are subject to change. Please review your benefits guide to confirm eligibility before booking.
Related: Are authorized users covered by Chase credit card travel insurance?
How do I file a trip cancellation or interruption insurance claim?
- Contact your issuer: Call your credit card benefits administrator or start a claim online. Even if you think your insurance will cover you after reading your card’s benefits guide, it’s generally a good idea to call the number on the back of your card. Doing so will allow you to make sure you are covered, know the deadlines for filing your claim, and determine what documents you will need to collect.
- Ship on time: Most claims must be made within 20 to 60 days of cancellation to be eligible for a refund, depending on your card issuer’s specific guidelines.
- Present evidence: A benefits administrator will give you further instructions on how to apply after you start your claim. It will be helpful to send physical documentation with your claim (such as receipts, doctor’s notes, and weather advisories), in addition to anything else that may help validate your claim.
Typically, a benefits administrator can guide you through specific steps to file your claim. Fortunately, many card issuers also allow you to make claims online, so you may not even need to make a phone call to send any physical documents.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum Travel Protections Comparison
Does credit card insurance cover natural disasters?
Generally, trip cancellation and interruption insurance will cover non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip (or the rest of your trip) due to a natural disaster. However, credit card insurance policies vary, so check your benefits guide for specific exclusions.
Please note that you must book your trip before the natural disaster begins to be covered. If a storm or hurricane is named and you book your trip afterward, you probably won’t be covered.
Related: 4 times your credit card travel insurance can help you with travel problems, and 7 times it can’t.
In a nutshell
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance may be one of the most valuable (and overlooked) benefits of a travel credit card.
Coverage details vary widely by issuer and card, so it’s important to review your benefits guide before booking. For expensive trips, you can still consider standalone travel insurance, but the right credit card can provide significant protection without paying more.
